Chapter 9
A Handsome Stalker
Angelique Delavigne
“If I had to guess, you’re probably a model. With a body like that it would be difficult to imagine you as anything else.”
Angelique turned back towards the dress she had resolved to buy, trying to hide a smile at his subtle compliment. He seemed nice; she only wished they hadn’t met a day before she was set to go.
“Will you be taking that one?” he asked with an interest that was puzzling.
“Yes. I guess this will have to do. Where are you visiting from?” she asked in silent hope that he would say America.
“Here and there,” he replied vaguely. “My company is undergoing an expansion and so I’m always back and forth. I am currently here to oversee the opening of a new branch.”
“Alright, then,” Angelique said. She was familiar with people saying plenty, but not giving too much away. “I have to go pay for this. It was nice to meet you, Dmitri.”
She headed for the counter, checking her watch for the time. Marco had asked the models to convene by the hotel’s poolside later that evening. They were going to take official photographs for the magazine to mark the end of their trip and have a small party afterwards. Angelique was pleased that the ‘scrapbook princesses’ had not been invited to Paris. She planned to rub it in their faces if she ever worked with them on a shoot again.
She was jolted from her thoughts by Dmitri, who had come to stand beside her at the counter.
“I’d like to pay for your dress, if you’d let me,” he offered. Not expecting to be refused, he reached for his wallet and pulled out his card, but Angelique beat him to it.
“It’s okay, I got it. But thanks for offering.” She paid and gave them instructions to have it wrapped and delivered to the hotel. She wasn’t averse to being gifted by strangers, but Dmitri was closed off in a way that irked her. She didn’t want to be indebted before she could figure him out, if she ever would.
He followed as she left the store. “Can I at least have your number? I’d like to speak with you again.”
“Um, sure. I guess.” She typed it into his cell and waved him a final goodbye.
∞∞∞
“Mom! I mean - Sophia!” Angelique walked into the open arms of her mother, pulling her against her for a hug. Her mom pulled back to look at her. Angelique couldn’t if she was happy to see her or just glad she hadn’t kept her waiting. She grinned inwardly at her cynicism.
“How was your flight, Angie?” She opened the trunk of the car so Angelique could put in her luggage.
“It was okay. I slept through most of it.”
“Aren’t you going to tell me how the Donatella party went?” her mom inquired, impatient to have the details.
Angelique’s face dropped into a gloomy scowl.
“It went horribly, Mom, horribly. And it is all because you’re looking at the newest model for Donatella Versace!” Angelique teased. “She came over to me and struck up a conversation. Apparently she’s launching a new collection in New York soon. It’s all hush-hush; she only shared because I mentioned I was from The Big Apple. It’ll be titled Faceless, so I suggested that she used some underground models, faces people wouldn’t recognize at first glance, like the title theme.”
“Oh, my God, darling, this is huge! You had me for a minute, starting off the way you did.” Her mother looked like she had never felt more proud of her; perhaps she believed things were finally coming full circle for them.
“It is calledla s’accumuler, Maman,” Angelique said, grinning. “The build-up. I’m surprised her team hasn’t emailed you yet. I am going to be the face of Faceless,” she finished proudly.
“See? I told you good things would come from this trip. Learn to trust me,ma chérie. So, did you get some?” her mother asked, wiggling her brows and giving her a knowing look.
“What?” Angelique responded, feigning ignorance. It was just like her mom to make her uncomfortable with these kinds of questions.
“You know “what,” Angie, just tell me already.”
“No, I didn’t getsome,” Angie retorted, placing emphasis on the last word. “I was so swamped with work, I didn’t have the time. Is there anything else you would like to know? Maybe my favorite sex position?”
“Ugh, no. Too much information! I don’t want to know.”
“Really? I didn’t think you appreciated discretion. Can we stop to get food on the way to my place?” Angelique’s belly was beginning to grumble. She hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast at the hotel.
“Okay, we can do that. But I wasn’t taking you to your apartment. You’re staying with me while you rest. The dinner party was planned for this evening; I figured we might get ready together. Did you buy a dress?”
Angelique groaned and reclined her seat backwards. She had a mouthful of things to say, but she didn’t want to ruin the new bond that had grown between them.
“Why are you pushing your seat down? You did buy the dress, right?” her mom asked, working herself into a fright.
“Yes, I got the dress, Mom, and I’m trying to rest because it looks like I won’t be able to do that for a while. Thankyouvery much. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to sleep.
